Gasolene-tank gage



M. H. CLEAVER.

GASOLENE TANK GAGE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1919.

1,35 ,329, Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

MONTAGUE H. CLEANER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

' easotnnn-ranx GAGE.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

- Application filed Kay 28, 1919. Serial No. 800,486.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MONTAGUE H. CLnAvER, a subject of the Kin of Great Britain, residing at Brooklyn, ew York city, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Urasolene-Tank Gages, of which'the following is a specification.

My invention relates to aging devices for continued use in the liquld container with which they are associated, and is particularly designed to furnish a simple and convenient apparatus for use in gasolene tanks carried under the seats of automobiles. The condition existing in such installations require that the gage should be easily withdrawn into the tank when not in use and remain safely there while the seat cushions are in place, be easily put in operation when the seat cushion is removed so that the tank filling cap is uncovered, and be simple and cheap in construction. My invention accomplishes these purposes by employing a cup and graduated spindle which device as a whole will float on the surface of the liquid whenthe cup is empty and so indicate by the extent of projecting spindle the level of the liquid, but which when the cup is submerged will lose all power of flotation and rest on the tank bottom, the spindle being thereby withdrawn into the tank far enough to be wholly below the replaced seat cushion. The best form of apparatus at present known to me embodying my invention is illustrated in the accompanying sheet of drawing in which Figure 1 is a vertical cross section of an automobile seat with gasolene tank placed under a removable seat cushion, parts being broken away and Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the spindle and attached cup.

Throughout the drawings like reference characters indicate like parts: 1 is the gasolene tank 2, the box or receptacle in which it is placed, being in this case the lower portion of the drivers seat, and 3, the usual removable seat cushion serving as a cover for receptacle 2. The tank can be filled b removing the usual screw cap or plug 4. his cap is usually perforated to allow the air in the tank to equalize in pressure with the exterior atmosphere.

My present invention consists in a simple gaging element which may be applied to the trally from the lower end of a spindle 5,

which moves freely through the perforation 1n cap 4, and is of such length that when the cup rests on the tank bottom (as shown in Fig. 1) enough of the upper end of the spindle will project through cap 4, to enable the operator to grasp it and lift the cup to or above the level 7 of the liquid. The spindle is preferably provided with graduated marks or notches as shown, so that by readmg the mark next-appearing above the cap 4, when the cup rests on the liquid, the operator. can tell the number of gallons of gasolene or-other liquid in the tank. The spindle also has a small enlargement or other device 9, at'its extreme end to prevent its pulling out of the perforation in the cap and so becoming disengaged from screw cap 4, when the latter is removed for filling the tank. As shown, the enlargement 9, is in the shape of a button, the shank of which is forced into the tubular end of spindle 5.

The cup 6 is provided with one or more partitions 8, 8, extending from the spindle to the cup walls. These may be given a curved form as shown in Fig. 2, or may be of any other convenient shape. Preferably also the walls of the cap are wholly or partly inclined outward as shown.

Normally the gaging apparatus rests on the tank bottom as shown in Fig. 1 and does not interfere with the removing or re placing of seat cushion 3. When the operator wishes to determine the amount of gasolene in the tank he removes the seat cushion, grasps the protruding'end of spindle 5, lifts it far enough to bring the cup above the level of the gasolene, gives it a few quick revolutions by rolling the spindle between his thumb and finger, and releases it. The spinning of the cup and contained liquid, caused to revolve therewith by the approximately radial partitions 8, flirts the holding the spindle 5, in such a position that the mark appearing thereon nearest the cap 4, will indicate the number of gallons of liquid in the tank. When the operator sequent'movementof the cushion, until the,

cup is again pulled up into operative position and its buoyancy reestablished as above described.

The advantages of the construction comprise its simplicity and the ease with which it may be put out of action, or put back into action, as a float gage, as well as its freedom from possibility of becoming water logged. A cork or wooden float soon loses its buoyancy from saturation, and a hollow metal I float is liable to leak. Mycup will float long enough to give a substantially correct reading even if it leaks a little and by making it of a single stamped piece of metal,

as shown, there is no possibility of its leaking, unless a hole .is eaten through it by chemical action. Furthermore, a gaging device having permanent power of flotation would be always pressing upward against the superimposed seat or cushion and would cause the spindle to press againstthe same when being replaced over the tank and so render the spindle subject to lateral strain, which might soon bend it so it would be useless.

When the cup 4 is removed to fill the tank, the gaging device comes with it as a unit, the diameter of cup 6, being a little less than the diameter of the opening closed by a cap 4.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination, with a tank for holding liquid and perforated cap therefor, of a gaging device comprising a cup, a spindle extending upward centrally of the cup through the mouth thereof and through the perforation in the cap, and a partition in the cup extending in a generally radial direction thereof.

2. A gaging device comprising in combination a cup provided with radial partitions and a spindle extending upward axially of the cup and having graduated marks thereon.

3. A structure such as described in claim 2, in which the partitions are all similarly curved.

4. A structure such as described in claim 2, in which the cup has outwardly sloping walls.

5. In a gaging" device the combination, with a closed tank having a perforation in its upper or covering portion, of a spindle extending upward through and freely movable in said perforation and a cup provided with approximately radial partitions centrally supported in the tank on the lower end ofsaid spindle.

6. A combination such as set forth in claim 5, in which the spindle is provided with graduated marks, each one of which represents the quantity of liquid in the tank necessary to float the cup in a position which will cause that particular mark to appear above the tank.

7. The combination with a gasolene tank arranged under the seat of a motor car, and a removable seat cushion normally resting over said tank, of a gaging device comprising a spindle movable vertically through the tank filling cap, and a cup carried on the lower end of the spindle and provided with approximately radial partitions, whereby when the cushion is in normal position, the cup is forced downward and submerged, resting on, the tank bottom without buoyancy, but when the cushion is removed, the cup may be lifted and rotated by the spindle thereby freeing itself by centrifugal force of contained liquid and regaining its buoyancy so that it will float on the surface of the liquid and the projecting spindle indicate the level of said liquid.

. MONTAGUE H. CLEAVER. 

